Karnataka: Records gutted in fire 20 yrs ago reproduced in Haveri

HAVERI: In a first in the state, Haveri district administration has decided to recreate and rebuild all important documents that were gutted when a few angry farmers protesting against the irregular supply of water, set the revenue record office in Savanur on fire on April 29, 2000.
Due to the fire, more than 10,000 farmers of 33 villages under Savanur’s Kasaba hobli lost their land records and that in turn deprived them of loans and other government benefits.Following Haveri deputy commissioner’s order to recreate the destroyed documents by referring to the supporting documents preserved in the department at the earliest, the revenue authorities have commenced the work already.
According to sources, after the fire incident, farmers have not been able to transfer or change title in the records among others ,while some others have not been able to register purchased land due to the lack of land records.
“We have ordered Savanur tahsildar to recreate land records that were gutted when farmers protest had become violent 20 years ago, as per the government guidelines. The land records of 33 villages will be collected from the civil court, Dharwad DC office, ADLR and DDLR office, banks and cooperative societies to recreate the lost records,” shared DC Sanjay Shettennavar.
DC noted that the farmers can also provide available documents of their land to rebuild the revenue records.
“We have given training to the officers and staff to recreate land records as per government guidelines. The action will be taken if officers violate the rules and guidelines while recreating land records. Farmers in all 33 villages are urged to cooperate with the authorities in this regard,” he appealed,” said ADC S Yogishwar.
‘Authorities misused the incident’
After the protesting farmers set fire to the revenue office in 2000, the revenue authorities allegedly misused this incident. Although the land records of about 33 villages of Kasaba hobali were destroyed, officials claimed that land records of entire Savanur taluk were destroyed.
“We belong to Hattimattur hobali, but revenue authorities, when I sought land tribunal order which was passed in 1993, said they were gutted. Authorities are misusing this incident and have been giving the same reply to all,” said Shantavva Kadakol from Mantagani village in Savanur taluk.
Suspecting the process, lawyer Parashuram Agadi said officers in the revenue department have created fake land records by misusing the incident already. “I don’t have much hopes on Savanur revenue authorities recreating proper land records,”he added.